LUTHERAN ELEM SCHOOL OF BAY RIDGE

Lutheran or Christian families in southern Brooklyn — and any value-driven parents — who want a small, affordable elementary where their child will be deeply known and academically challenged through 5th grade.

• Flat $7,200 tuition — unusually affordable for a private elementary, with no sliding tiers that often push families toward sticker shock.
• A 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio in a school of just 153 students means genuine small-class attention, not just marketing language.
• Spanish instruction begins in elementary years — a meaningful addition at this grade level, when language acquisition comes most naturally.
• Performing arts and music are built into the program rather than treated as extras, giving every student a chance to be on stage.
• Parent reviews consistently describe a community without cliques — a real signal in a school small enough for that to matter.

• This is a religious school with Christian instruction woven into the curriculum — families seeking a secular environment should look elsewhere.
• Education ends at 5th grade, so families will need a separate plan (and budget) for middle and high school.
• Small size means a narrower range of peers and activities than larger private schools — a strength for some kids, a limitation for others.
• Rolling admissions offer flexibility, but popular faith-based schools often fill spots informally through parish connections before applications are filed.